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Crystal Palace are pushing to get a deal done early to sign Tottenham Hotspur forward Brennan Johnson, according to the Daily Mail.

Palace are discussing an offer of around £35 million for the Spurs star, who has struggled to break into the starting XI.

The Eagles want reinforcements after failing to add enough firepower in the summer transfer window following the sale of Eberechi Eze.

The decision not to reinforce properly has come back to haunt the club, with Ismaila Sarr heading to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), leaving the team short in attack.

An early swoop for Johnson would help to mitigate the loss of Sarr, who is likely to make a deep run at AFCON with Senegal.

Other Premier League clubs are also in the race, but the Eagles have been pushing for some time and are well placed to land the 24-year-old winger.

Lauded as ‘one of the best counter-attacking forwards in the Premier League‘, he could be a potent weapon in the hands of Palace manager Oliver Glasner.

Palace are also admirers of Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb.

He has shown flashes of real quality at City. He is direct, fearless, and comfortable operating between the lines, but he has struggled to break into the first team.

A short-term loan would bolster Glasner’s attacking options and inject freshness into a side badly in need of momentum.

If the Eagles can pair Johnson’s proven Premier League output with Bobb’s spark, it could be the ideal boost to halt their poor run and kick-start the second half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘currently have no interest’ in signing midfielder Leon Goretzka, according to The Athletic.

Rumours had swirled that Spurs were keen on a move for the Bayern Munich ace in January, but those reports have been rubbished.

Goretzka has six months left on his deal and could have been a solid pick-up for Tottenham under the right terms.

However, it appears Tottenham are not looking his way and rightly so. The 30-year-old is not the profile of player the North London giants should be looking at.

There is a reason the German international (67 caps) has fallen down the pecking order at Bayern when everyone is fit.

Besides his ability to arrive late in the box, he does not offer other important qualities required in the engine room.

Goretzka does not help control the game enough.

His vision is not special, and even though he works hard defensively, Tottenham can do better than the former Schalke 04 star.

What do Tottenham need in the midfield this January?

Tottenham don’t just need a destroyer. Manager Thomas Frank deserves a true holding midfielder who can break up play and move the ball forward with purpose.

Unfortunately, Spurs may not be able to land a world-class defensive midfielder until next summer.

Joao Palhinha’s loan spell from Bayern Munich has addressed only half of that equation.

His ball-winning instincts and positional discipline have been useful, but his limitations in progression slow Spurs down and leave the build-up overly dependent on centre-backs.

For a side that wants to control games higher up the pitch, that simply isn’t sustainable.

What Spurs need is a No.6 who can screen the defence, play through pressure, and connect phases.

The roster needs someone comfortable receiving on the half-turn and feeding runners between the lines.

Slotting that profile alongside Rodrigo Bentancur would give Spurs balance, tempo, and control. Until then, their midfield will remain functional but incomplete.

Crystal Palace welcome London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park on Sunday, with both sides desperate to halt worrying Premier League slides.

The Eagles come into the derby on the back of a draining EFL Cup exit against Arsenal, losing on penalties after a resilient display at the Emirates.

That defeat compounded a difficult run in the league, where Oliver Glasner’s side has suffered consecutive losses.

Palace have slipped out of the European places as a result, conceding seven goals across those two fixtures. The focus turns to stabilising their league form.

Match preview

Selhurst Park has often been a platform for Palace in big fixtures, and Glasner will hope the atmosphere can lift a squad that is showing signs of fatigue.

Defensive solidity has deserted the Eagles in recent weeks, with 10 goals conceded across their last four matches in all competitions.

Tottenham arrive in equally poor shape, having lost four of their last six league games and struggling badly on the road.

That fragility offers Palace an opportunity, especially given their recent success in this fixture, having completed a league double over Spurs last season without conceding.

Match stats

Crystal Palace have failed to win any of their last four matches in all competitions (D1, L3).

They have scored just one goal in their last two Premier League outings, while conceding seven.

This fixture has been contested 67 times in total. Tottenham hold the overall edge with 37 wins, compared to Palace’s 15, with 15 draws between the sides.

However, momentum has swung recently, with the Eagles winning both Premier League meetings in the 2024/25 season.

Palace have won two of the last three league clashes against Spurs and are chasing their first successive home league victories over them.

Team news

Palace’s injury list remains a concern, particularly in defence and midfield.

Chris Richards suffered a cut to his foot against Arsenal, but could still be involved, though a cautious approach may see him rested.

Daniel Munoz, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad, Caleb Kporha and Daichi Kamada are all unavailable, while Ismaila Sarr is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been managing a knee issue, but played the full 90 minutes in mid-week and is expected to lead the line once again.

The Frenchman scored the winner in this fixture last season and remains Palace’s most reliable focal point in attack.

With Richards unlikely to start, ‘exciting talent’ Jaydee Canvot should slot into a back three alongside Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi.

Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell are set to operate as wing-backs, while Adam Wharton and Will Hughes anchor midfield.

Further forward, Yeremy Pino and Justin Devenny are expected to support Mateta, with 26-year-old Eddie Nketiah on the bench.

Crystal Palace predicted line-up (3-4-2-1)

Dean Henderson; Jaydee Canvot, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi; Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, Tyrick Mitchell; Yeremy Pino, Justin Devenny; Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Tottenham Hotspur’s demoralising 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend was fuelled by a dismal performance by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The first goal stemmed from a mix-up between Vicario and Archie Gray at the back. The second was all on Vicario, whose poor positioning allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi to score.

Manager Tottenham Thomas Frank can’t keep letting him cost the club points.

Spurs need an alternative to the Italian international to provide competition, with Frank seemingly reluctant to give Antonin Kinsky a chance to take the starting berth.

Tottenham should be at the front of the queue to sign AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who is available this summer for free.

Why Tottenham should be all over Maignan

Maignan established himself in Ligue 1 with Lille, helping them win the title. He joined Milan and helped them win the Scudetto.

The Frenchman won the Golden Glove and played an active role in both title triumphs.

The Spurs goalie has conceded seven goals from outside the box this term, while Maignan has shipped none in their respective leagues.

Vicario has also made two errors leading to goals, but Maignan hasn’t made any.

Maignan is a fantastic shot-stopper who commands his area superbly, making a strong case to be considered one of the most authoritative goalkeepers around.

His ball-playing ability is under-appreciated. He often starts attacks with his accurate distribution, something Tottenham have lacked.

The French international star is also a leader of men, having been appointed Milan captain.

His availability in the free-agent market is an opportunity Tottenham must capitalise on.

Spurs need a reliable goalkeeper and can get one of the best in the world for free if they are proactive.

City Football Group (CFG) executive Carlos Raphael Moersen is in advanced talks to join Tottenham Hotspur as their director of football operations, according to The Athletic.

Tottenham have undergone significant changes at board level, and Moersen is set to join them.

One of his primary roles at the Etihad Stadium club is to negotiate contracts with current and prospective players.

Moersen has spent the last ten years working for CFG clubs and is currently their director of football transactions.

He will bring his wealth of experience to Tottenham, and while the deal is not yet complete, it is expected to be finalised soon.

Spurs are also set to appoint Alex Scotcher as their new commercial director in January.

They believe his arrival will help expedite their process of securing a naming rights partner, since moving into their new stadium in April 2019.

Major changes have been happening at the club in recent months, with former chairman Daniel Levy leaving in September after 24 years.

Former Arsenal executive Vinai Venkatesham became Spurs chief executive officer in April 2024, and executive director Donna-Maria Cullen stepped down two months later.

Fabio Paratici also returned to Tottenham as a joint-sporting director alongside Johan Lange in October, and more changes could be on the cards.

Moersen will likely work closely with Paratici, and Spurs manager Thomas Frank will hope they recruit quality players during the winter transfer window.

Tottenham are 11th in the Premier League table after 16 games, with just one win to their name in the last seven league games.

They need to make key additions to their squad in the coming weeks as they are desperate to turn things around.

Moersen could join Spurs before the winter transfer window opens, and his imminent departure is a significant blow for Man City.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to preserve their unbeaten start to December when they take on Nottingham Forest at City Ground later today.

The mood in the Tottenham dressing room has shifted over the past couple of weeks, with December offering Thomas Frank’s side a renewed sense of belief.

Tottenham visit City Ground looking for a third consecutive win in all competitions and a fourth game without defeat (W2, D1).

Spurs ended last month with three consecutive defeats in all competitions.

However, they seem to have turned a corner after following up a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United with back-to-back wins over Brentford and Slavia Prague.

The 2-0 win against Brentford lifted Tottenham closer to the European places.

They’ll head into the game against Forest six points off fourth-placed Chelsea, and a win over the Tricky Trees will keep them within touching distance.

Tottenham’s recent form will take the sting off the fact that they started the weekend in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

However, their away form is cause for concern as they take on a resurgent Forest side.

Tottenham have lost three of their last four games (D1) away from home, but at least they’ve scored at least twice in six of their seven trips this season.

How Tottenham could line up

After watching his side put in a performance of complete domination in midweek, Frank will be forgiven for making only a couple of tweaks for the battle with Forest at City Ground.

The Danish manager will be wary of compromising his chances of putting together three consecutive wins for the first time since joining Spurs.

That should see Guglielmo Vicario retain his spot in goal as well as a familiar backline of Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Djed Spence.

The “very talented” Archie Gray is in line to start back-to-back Premier League games and a third in a row in all competitions after forcing his way into Frank’s plans.

He’ll likely be joined by Rodrigo Bentancur, who returns to the XI after sitting out the midweek game.

Randal Kolo Muani should also return to the XI in place of Wilson Odobert, while Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, and Richarlison reprise their roles.

Predicted XI;

Thomas Frank has singled out Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Archie Gray for praise after his outstanding performance in the 3-0 Champions League win against Slavia Prague.

Tottenham are gearing up for a tricky trip to City Ground, where they’ll take on Sean Dyche’s unpredictable Nottingham Forest side.

Frank has delivered a positive injury update on two Tottenham stars, including Dominic Solanke, who has struggled to shake off recurring injury problems all season.

The midweek victory extended Tottenham’s unbeaten run to three games in all competitions after following up a 2-2 draw against Newcastle with a comfortable 2-0 win over Brentford.

That run has lifted the mood in the dressing room, having previously won just one of seven games in all competitions before the unbeaten streak.

Tottenham will hope to stretch that run to four games on the spin at City Ground, and they’ve been boosted by a double injury update.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Frank confirmed that his side came through the win against Slavia Prague unscathed, while Brennan Johnson and Solanke are making progress in their recovery.

“Minor thing,” Frank said, allaying fears of a long-term injury to Johnson. “I expect him to be available for Forest. He trained today.”

Frank also confirmed that Solanke was back training on grass, but the major highlight from his interview centred around Gray.

The talented midfielder put in a 7/10 performance in midweek, and Frank believes he has the potential to become a world beater in the future.

“I like what I see from Archie,” Frank said. “I think he’s a very talented young player with a big potential.

“I like what I’ve seen from him. Everything from the Burnley game in the beginning of the season to those bits in the Fulham game I liked from him.

“I think there was definitely very good bits in the Brentford game and also in the Slavia game.”

Frank tried to sign Gray during his time at Brentford, but the teenager opted to join Tottenham. Now reunited, Frank has admitted Gray has what it takes to be a leader in the future.

“I think he’s very good on the ball. I like that he plays with his head up so he can play short. He can drive the ball. The pass to Pedro for the penalty against Slavia was an excellent pass.

“Perfectly weighted. Playing it behind. Great capacity to cover the pitch. Good pressing skills, and I think he’s young, but he has a very good character. I think he could be a leader in the future.”

Coming off a chaotic eight-goal thriller in their last Champions League outing, Tottenham Hotspur are looking to consolidate their play-off spot as they take on Slavia Prague in North London.

After splitting four goals and losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, Tottenham finished second best once again when they visited Paris for a rematch.

Arriving still bruised from a heavy North London derby defeat to Arsenal, Thomas Frank’s side showed far more attacking bite at the Parc des Princes.

But while their forward play clicked, their defensive woes allowed PSG to race away with a 5-3 win.

That defeat ended Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the competition. But their eight-point tally keeps them firmly in the seeded play-off spots and only two points shy of automatic qualification.

A return to home soil for the game against Slavia Prague should give Spurs the ideal opportunity to return to winning ways in the Champions League.

They’ve won both their home games so far, seeing off Villarreal and Copenhagen without conceding.

Tottenham’s remarkable 22-match unbeaten run in European home games remains intact, and they are just one goal short of reaching 100 in the competition.

Having snapped their dreadful home run in the Premier League with a 2-0 win against Brentford over the weekend, Spurs will back themselves to get the job done later tonight.

How Tottenham could line up

Frank could make up to four changes for the game against Slavia Prague as they look to close the gap further to the top eight.

Guglielmo Vicario will be looking for a third straight home clean sheet in the Champions League when Slavia Prague come visiting, but the back four could see a minor tweak.

While Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven, and Pedro Porro reprise their roles, Kevin Danso could come in for Cristian Romero, who should be handed a breather.

Joao Palhinha should come in to anchor the midfield alongside “unstoppable” Lucas Bergvall, in place of Rodrigo Bentancur and Archie Gray.

Wilson Odobert may step in for Randal Kolo Muani while Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, and Richarlison spearhead the attack.

Predicted XI;

Thomas Frank has revealed that his Tottenham Hotspur squad has no fresh injury worries as he prepares to host Brentford in North London on Saturday.

The Danish manager is gearing up for an emotional fixture and insists “everyone should be ready” after coming through Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw away at Newcastle unscathed.

There were a few positives to take from the hard-fought draw, with Cristian Romero marking his return from suspension with a fantastic overhead kick.

However, the draw also extended Tottenham’s winless streak to five games across all competitions (D2, L3).

They’ve also won just one of their last eight games in all competitions (D2, L5) and have failed to win any of their previous five Premier League games (D2, L3).

Hosting Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a decent chance to snap this miserable run of form, and Frank will have plenty of firepower at his disposal.

When asked for an injury update after Newcastle during his pre-match press conference, Frank said: “No, everyone from the Newcastle game should be ready.”

Frank was a little more cautious when asked about Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke, who have spent the majority of the season in the infirmary.

Kulusevski hasn’t played a single minute for Tottenham this season due to a knee injury, while Solanke has only managed three substitute appearances as he recovers from an ankle issue.

When pressed for an update on their potential return dates, Frank said: “When they are ready to really be close to being involved in the squad, then I will give more information.”

Tottenham’s woeful run of form has seen them plummet to 11th place in the Premier League table, although they remain just five points off the top four.

Nevertheless, being in the bottom half after 14 games has put Frank’s place in the dugout under scrutiny, with reports claiming the club is already scouting the market for potential replacements.

One name that has popped up on Tottenham’s radar so far is Fulham’s Marco Silva, who was regarded highly by former Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

If Tottenham fail to come away with a win against Brentford on Saturday, Frank could be out of a job sooner rather than later.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to appoint Alex Scotcher as their new commercial director in January, according to the Telegraph.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are still looking for a naming rights partner since moving into their new stadium in April 2019.

Spurs are eyeing a sponsor for their new stadium and are convinced the arrival of Scotcher will speed up the process and finally get a deal over the line.

He helped Everton agree a lucrative Hill Dickinson naming rights partnership for their new stadium, with the Merseyside club bagging a deal worth £10m-a-year over the next decade.

The Toffees will be making around £100m from the deal, and Tottenham are targeting more.

Tottenham wanted a world record naming rights deal worth £25m-a-year for 15 years, which would have earned them £375m.

However, the North London club have not succeeded in their bid to land a sponsor, with former chairman Daniel Levy blamed for setting the price too high.

A Saudi Arabian entity were reportedly frontrunners to secure the deal, but nothing has emerged and Scotcher has been tasked with finding them the perfect partners for a juicy naming rights deal.

Tottenham appointed Todd Kline as the club’s first chief commercial officer in 2021, chiefly because he helped the NFL’s Miami Dolphins bag an 18-year naming rights deal worth around £180 million for their stadium.

Tottenham were hoping Kline would help them replicate such, but the American struggled to get it done before resigning last year to join Chelsea.

Scotcher also worked on naming rights deals for Valencia during his role as senior vice-president of global partnerships of sports and entertainment consultancy firm Elevate.

He was the director of global partnerships and chief commercial officer at AS Roma before leaving in 2022 and he will fancy his chances of getting the job done at Tottenham.